Release No.: 088-16
WASHINGTON, April 12, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Ricardo Bombella of Goodyear, Ariz., for failing to comply with employment sanctions under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA.)
USDA and Ricardo Bombella entered into a consent decision and order finding that Bombella violated section 8(b) of PACA by being employed by a PACA licensee between April 2012 and April 2014 while under employment sanctions. As a result of the consent decision and order, Ricardo Bombella’s employment sanction was extended for a one-year period beginning April 6, 2016.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce companies operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry. All oversight of actions related to PACA are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA. PACA establishes a code of good business conduct for the produce industry. Under it, all interstate traders in fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables must be licensed by USDA. USDA is authorized to suspend or revoke a trader’s license for violating the act.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Our experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information, contact Josephine E. Jenkins, Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873, or by email at PACAInvestigations@ams.usda.gov.
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